Tag: Canada News
Get the latest LGBT+ Canada news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Canada.
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World’s “Sexiest” Prime Minister Joins Canada Pride Event
North America’s largest Pride festival unveils Canada’s first-ever Pride Month.
Pride Toronto, the city’s most vibrant and inclusive arts and cultural festival and North America’s largest Pride celebration, has unveiled its 2016 Pride Month theme, announcing to the world that this June, “YOU CAN SIT WITH US.” The campaign for Canada’s first-ever Pride Month, features Canada’s top political leaders: noted “sexiest man alive” and “politician dreamboat” (Vogue) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, openly out Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and partner Jane Rounthewaite and Toronto Mayor John Tory who will all participate in this year’s festivities in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Pride Toronto’s 2016 Parade will make Canadian history, with Justin Trudeau participating as Canada’s first ever sitting Prime Minister to march, alongside leadership from both Toronto’s municipal and Ontario’s provincial governments.
To celebrate the power and beauty of its diverse community, Pride Toronto held an open photo shoot for community members, artists and city leaders to show their Pride. The event was met with an overwhelming response, enabling the campaign to showcase over 300 community members of all ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and ethnicities.
“If a picture is worth 1,000 words, maybe 1,000 pictures has the potential to give a true face to our community. And what a truly diverse and beautiful community we have,’” said Mathieu Chantelois, Pride Toronto Executive Director. “By striking a pose for our camera crew, hundreds took a stand for Pride Toronto, they are telling the world that it’s ok to sit with us, but also to rally, march, celebrate, love and change the world with us.”
Noted personalities in the campaign also include: Ministers of Canadian parliament, Toronto City Councillors, Trans activists, the Toronto Police Service Chief of Police, the Guinness World Record Holder for Oldest Performing Drag Queen, DJs, artists and performers, along with Pride Toronto’s recently announced 2016 Honoured Group, Black Lives Matter – Toronto.
This year’s theme is a play on, and response to, the infamous line from the 2004 cult-classic film Mean Girls. ‘YOU CAN SIT WITH US’ conveys a strong message of belonging and inclusion – a sentiment that was heard in consultations with community members.
Canada’s first-ever Pride Month will launch on 1 June, featuring extended programming and provocative events throughout the city, culminating the much-anticipated Pride Parade on 3 July.
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The Man Who Wants Everyone To Know That Harry Styles Has A Foreskin
Penis activist wants young American fans of Harry Styles to know that he has a foreskin.
Glen Callender is a foreskin crusader and he’s on a mission to ensure that our foreskins stay intact. Speaking about his mission and specifically about One Directions’ Harry Styles he said to Noisey Canada
“I think it’s important from a cultural point of view that we make it known and educate that Styles has an uncircumcised penis,”
“We have a lot of North American girls who are being conditioned from their respective cultures to say that foreskin is yucky and they don’t even understand that they young beautiful men they idolize have their penises intact.”
Callender sees it his mission to stop the forced circumcision the world over.
Callender who created the Canadian Foreskin Awareness Project also has a Pride, called, Foreskin Pride.
”The foreskin is a pleasure organ, it makes people happy, and that’s what the world should be like.” Callender told Noisey Canada.
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The Gayest Object In The World
Today, the world’s first and only ‘gay’ object – a sweater knit from the donated hair of more than 100 LGBT people – makes its debut during Toronto Fashion Week.
- Sweater made out the hair of 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people
- Thought to be the only product in the world that is 100% “gay”
- Made to highlight the correct use of the word “gay” and end the misuse of the word.
Appearing ahead of this summer’s upcoming Pride Week celebrations in Toronto, New York, San Francisco and London, The Gay Sweater was created to make people everywhere understand that it is incorrect and offensive to use language like ‘that’s so gay’ to negatively describe something. #TheGaySweater also aims to raise awareness of the detrimental effects that such misuse of the word ‘gay’ has on LGBT youth. The project is an initiative of The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD).
“The idea for the sweater was born from a desire to educate and encourage everyone to use ‘gay’ the correct way,” said Jeremy Dias, director of the CCGSD. “We want the conversation that surrounds the gay sweater to inspire those who are using ‘gay’ in a detrimental way to both realise the negative impact their words and actions are having and change their behaviour.”
Along with the sweater, a short film at thegaysweater.ccgsd-ccdgs.org gives voice to youth who have been impacted by the derogatory use of the word ‘gay’ and showcases the process that went into creating the one-of-a-kind sweater. Using the sweater and the film, the CCGSD is hoping to start a much-needed conversation that encourages everyone to think before they use hurtful words like ‘gay’ in a negative way. Readers can follow that conversation and all sweater-related content on the website and by searching the hashtag #TheGaySweater.
Stylist Jennifer McConville of CBC News Now will be styling models wearing the sweater at David Pecaut Square on Tuesday, March 24th between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. (EDT).
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Dad Tells Son His Coming Out Is “Worse Than Death”
We’ve heard quite a few successful stories when it comes to coming out in recent years, but this painful message exchange from a father to his 15-year-old son shows the struggles some people still face when coming out to family and friends.
Shocking Facebook messenger messages from a father to his gay son have emerged on social media after he said that his coming out “was worse than death”.
Tyler from Vancouver in Canada posted the homophobic and abusive messages he received from his father on his Tumblr page. The messages were a result of Tyler coming out on Facebook post.
“We took care of you since you were a baby. We loved you, took care of you when you’re sick. Lost many days and nights in all your fifteen years. Now [sic] this is what we get in return, shame and embarrassment…Take out your post from the social media. You embarrass me… I’m going to puke.
“if only you didn’t reject God and His teachings in your life you could have been strong enough to stay from evil and scums that surrounds you.
“stay away
“Take out your post from the social media. You embarrass me from all the people I knew. I’m going to puke. Whatever you do it reflects on me. People will ridicule me,insul;t me and I might turn out to be a criminal. I have enough of all this bullsh**
“You are trying to ruin me. This is worst [sic] that death
“You f****K,!!!”
However Tyler is hoping for a positive outcome soon, speaking to HuffPost he said,”I’m upset with what my dad said, but I don’t hate him,
“I’m hoping there’s still the possibility that he could change, even it takes while. Maybe he could accept me, because that’s all I want… I just want him to be there for me.”
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Twin 10-Year-Old Twins Abby And Sarah Sing Amazing Sam Smith Medley
You have to check out these two twins from Toronto have taken on a Sam Smith medley and killed it.
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Hunky Gabriel Clark Stars In I’m A Stripper Too Tonight
Versatile Hunk Gabriel Clark stars in I’m a Stripper Too! Premiering on OutTV Canada and digital platforms internationally Sunday, Oct. 26th at 9pm ET/PT.
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Gay Community Sit In To Rid Toronto Of Mayor Rob Ford
Members of the LGBT community and its supporers in Toronto, Canada, have embarked on a peaceful sit in protest to rid Toronto of its Mayor, Rob Ford.
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INTERVIEW | Charlie David
Canadian cutie and former star of gothic gay soap opera Dante’s Cove, Charlie David talks to Domenico Sansalone about writing homoerotic paranormal short stories, S/M leather horse masks and hanging out with male strippers.
TGUK: All the best looking guys are Canadian! What was it like growing up in Saskatchewan, Canada?
CD: Cold! And I was the only gay Eskimo… well possibly not. I’ve heard of others coming out of the igloo lately but for a while there it was pretty lonely being the only one adorning my curvaceous snow bedroom walls with posters of Antonio Sabato Jr. rockin’ his Calvins.
TGUK: Where are you based now?CD: I currently live in Montréal, Québec which has no shortage of gays. Unfortunately they also have no shortage of snow in winter.
TGUK: Did you always want to be an actor?
CD: Absolutely, I was always the family entertainer, story-teller, and living room turned dance hall choreographer. The producer began early in me as well. I always delegated one of my brothers or sisters to be ticket-taker.
TGUK: Tell us about your time working on LGBT horror series Dante’s Cove?
CD: There were a lot of ridiculously good looking people running around in underwear or swimsuits with a ridiculous amount of oil spread on their bodies while saying ridiculous nonsensical lines and trudging our way through only comprehensible if drunk plot lines. It was a gong show and I have no regrets.
TGUK: It has a cult following in the UK. Do you ever get over here for appearances?CD: I’ve never been to the UK for appearances but often travel for pleasure. I’ve shopped, dined, drank and played football in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin. The rubber duck in my tub is from Harrod’s and the entrance mat to my house is the Union Jack. You could say I’m a bit of a Britophile. No don’t say that… it sounds dirty.
TGUK: Do you keep in touch with the rest of the cast?CD: I’m very good friends with Jon Fleming, Nadine Heimann, Gregory Michael, Tracy Scoggins and Thea Gill. While I see Jonny regularly I chat with the others at least a few times a year to catch up.
TGUK: How did the writing thing happen?CD: I’ve always really enjoyed writing – it’s therapeutic for me. I started in high school and it’s very much a hobby. I’ve written a few films, a play and three novels now. I’m not one of these actors who can just sit around. When I’m not working on camera on a show I’m producing, directing or writing. I’ve always found all elements of TV/Film fascinating.
TGUK: Tell us about you’re your homoerotic book of paranormal stories, Shadowlands?CD: Based on my writing so far I’m most proud of Shadowlands. It’s honest, it was scary to write because I thought I was revealing myself too much but that’s also proven to be what my readers want. They want to know the real me and that includes my dark side.
TGUK: What was your favourite story to write and why?CD: The opening story Pygmalion Revisited still makes my heart ache when I read it. It’s tragic because the protagonist suffers the loss of his love not once but twice. I’m fascinated by the idea of a perfect love because our world was formed in polarity. Nothing is perfect forever and I guess I’m a bit intoxicated with the rollercoaster of it all.
TGUK: You seem drawn to the supernatural, would you say you have a dark side?CD: Absolutely. We all do. It’s not that we’re either good or bad or dark or light. We’re human. It’s our nature to have shadowlands dwelling within us.
TGUK: Do you like Halloween?
CD: For sure!!
TGUK: What are you dressing up as this year?CD: I had this S/M leather horse mask made for a film I’m directing and then didn’t end up using it. But I think I’ll be putting it to good use this Halloween. Not sure what to wear from the neck down though…
TGUK: Tell us something nobody knows about Charlie David?CD: I’ve never been to an orgy but I’ve seen them on TV in this show Dante’s Cove.
TGUK: Most of our readers comment on how hot you are! Do you spend a lot of time at the gym?CD: I’m changing my workout. Less weights, more yoga, more running. We seem to be at a place of glorifying steroid use in the gay community and I don’t think it’s healthy. I’m going for a natural, real look. I think my internal organs will thank me in the long run. 😉 And I happen to think bull balls look good on a man. Grapes belong in a fruit salad.
TGUK: We think it’s great that you not only act but you also direct documentaries. Tell us about your documentary Positive Youth?CD: Positive Youth follows the challenges, hopes, fears, stigma, and relationships of four HIV+ youth. When I read about the rapid rise in new transmissions in young people I wanted to know why this was happening and what we could do to put out a message of education and prevention.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NU7tPa7CUA
TGUK: You also host a travel show called Bump. What’s been your favourite destination so far?CD: I LOVE Africa. I spent six months in S. Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana and was transformed by the wildlife, the people, and the spirit there. I’ve really never felt more alive than in my time in Africa.
TGUK: What’s your dream destination?
CD: I’m planning a backpacking trip through Colombia in January. I’ve never backpacked and never been to Colombia so it’s the next adventure.
TGUK: What upcoming projects do you have?CD: I’m currently finishing a documentary film I directed titled I’m a Stripper. It’s essentially a real life Magic Mike. It will be out Spring 2013. I essentially follow my curiosity with my writing and directing. I make films with topics that interest me. I just had a burning desire to spend a few months with some beautiful naked men and decided to call it ‘work’.